- President Donald Trump announced plans on Friday to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory amid ongoing tensions with Iran .
- Trump also warned that the U.S. will hit Iran hard economically as both nations struggle to reach an agreement to end a nearly six-month conflict.
- The U.S. military is preparing to deploy the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- The USS Abraham Lincoln has set a record by spending over 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, raising concerns about crew living conditions.
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Trump's threats, stating Tehran will not be intimidated and that the strategic waterway remains under Iranian authority.
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